Soutpiel Safari - News Feedhttp://blog.mailasail.com/soutpielsafari/index.rss
Tue, 01 Jul 2014 08:05:41 GMTSoutpiel Safari - John & Jenny Roomassare onwards north through the islandshttp://blog.mailasail.com/soutpielsafari/192
N58:33.0 E023:33.3<br>
After spending a very cold and windy Midsummer ? in Roomassare and
joining with the CA Rally for a bus tour of Saareema island, visiting
churches, a metoerite crater and a former Soviet missile site, we
pressed on northwards motoring (again) against a northerly breeze for 47
miles to a delightful anchorage just south of Virtsu on the Estonian
mainland. The first cove we tried was closed off with a large fishing
net right across the bay, which we narrowly avoided. We then tried the
next cove eastwards and found shelter from the seas and anchored in 5.5
m in a deserted cove on the chart as &quot;Harami Nina&quot;. Later joined by
Spellbound and Tsamaya and a German Nordic Folkboat.
<br>
<br>
Tue, 01 Jul 2014 08:05:41 GMThttp://blog.mailasail.com/soutpielsafari/192(soutpielsafari)Statisticshttp://blog.mailasail.com/soutpielsafari/191
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<DIV><FONT face=Calibri>We drove 25,160 km (15,630 miles)&nbsp;in 148 days,
consuming 2,841 litres of diesel at a total fuel cost of &#xA3;2,060. Average
consumption was 25.0 mpg or 11.3 litres per 100 km. Fuel cost per litre averaged
0.73 pence/litre and fuel cost per 100&nbsp;km was &#xA3;8.91.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri>In 148 days we had 33 "days off" where we drove nowhere.
So, average kms/driving day were 219 km. Only on 6 days did we drive more than
500 km and these were mainly transiting through Angola and on the long drive
home from Namibia.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri>Of the 148 nights on the trip we spent 99 nights in the
roof-top&nbsp;tent, 1 night sleeping in the car and 47 nights in various
"hotels", B&amp;B's, rooms and staying with friends and relatives.&nbsp; Of the
99 nights spent camping, 13 were in "bush camps" and on the whole they were
preferable to the camp sites we stayed in. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri>Costs</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri>This was not a cheap trip.&nbsp; Before leaving home we
spent a total of &#xA3;4,300, not including equipment of the vehicle. Main items
were:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT face=Calibri>Medical and
inoculations&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&#xA3;520</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT face=Calibri>Vehicle
insurance&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&#xA3;760</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT face=Calibri>Medical/repatriation
insurance&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&#xA3;1512</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT face=Calibri>Carnet de Passage, bank
guarantee&nbsp;and other
documentation&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&#xA3;720</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri>After leaving home we spent a total of &#xA3;12,000 en route,
as follows:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT face=Calibri>Accommodation and
meals&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&#xA3;4,400</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT face=Calibri>Food
materials&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&#xA3;1,385</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT
face=Calibri>Diesel&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&#xA3;2,060</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT face=Calibri>Visas and other
documentation&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&#xA3;1170</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT face=Calibri>Fares, ferries and road
tolls&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&#xA3;638</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT
face=Calibri>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Personal&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&#xA3;700</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT face=Calibri>Miscellaneous, incl traffic
fines&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&#xA3;480</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri>For comparison, the cost of shipping the vehicle from UK
to Durban would be about &#xA3;1,000!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
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Thu, 21 Apr 2011 08:38:10 GMThttp://blog.mailasail.com/soutpielsafari/191(soutpielsafari)Paper chasehttp://blog.mailasail.com/soutpielsafari/187
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<DIV><FONT face=Calibri>Tuesday 5 April 2011. Tandile, Broederstroom, South
Africa</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri>Now we have got the Land Rover clean I am engaged in
getting it registered in South Africa.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri>We had already obtained a "Letter of Authority" from
NRCS, a division of the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS). As Land Rover
had been unable to give me a Certificate of Conformity for the vehicle (on
account of it's age - 2003!!) the LOA was marked "subject to NRCS
inspection".&nbsp; Today's job was to have that inspection.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri>In spite of having an appointment, and being there on
time, the NRCS Inspector kept me waiting an hour and a half but the inspection
was routine.&nbsp; He just needed to check the specification of all the window
glass, all the lenses, the seat belts, the tyres and &nbsp;the AC
refrigerant.&nbsp; Then I had to pay R50 for a "clean" copy of the LOA.&nbsp; As
most Government institutions no longer accept cash, I had to pay R50 into their
bank account at ABSA and bring back a receipt.&nbsp; This took another hour and
a half - to find the bank and drive a 10 km round trip.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri>Then to Brits to the local vehicle licensing authority
to check on the other documentation required, which turned out to
be:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri>&nbsp;- a certified copy of my passport</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri>&nbsp;- the UK registration document</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri>&nbsp;- a Police Identification check</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri>&nbsp;- a weighbridge certificate</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri>&nbsp;- the LOA from SABS</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri>&nbsp;- a Bill of Entry (SAD500) from Customs and
Excise</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri>and, of course, a four page application
form!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri>I did the weighbridge certificate and then went to the
Police.&nbsp; That was fun - they had to verify the VIN number and the engine
number from the vehicle against those on the registration paper.&nbsp; it took
us over an hour to find the engine number! I must say that the South African
Police were extremely helpful and good natured about the whole exercise which
was for them dirty, frustrating and time consuming.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri>So now all I need is the Customs document.&nbsp; That's
tomorrow's job and another early trip into Pretoria. Today took 170 kms of
driving and its going to be much the same tomorrow.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
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Wed, 06 Apr 2011 05:42:54 GMThttp://blog.mailasail.com/soutpielsafari/187(soutpielsafari)Cleaninghttp://blog.mailasail.com/soutpielsafari/186
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<DIV><FONT face=Calibri>Sunday 3 April 2011. Tandile, Broederstroom</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri>Now comes all the hard work.&nbsp; Hatton (Jenny's
Malawian manger) and I have spent all day cleaning the Land Rover and we still
haven't finished. We used a pressure washer, washed the outside, the roof and
all the underside, removed kilos of African dust, and then we set to work on the
inside. There's still the back to do but it is looking infinitely
better.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri>Jenny has washed all our clothes and done dozens of
loads in the washing machine.&nbsp; She has also cleaned all the equipment from
the Land Rover.&nbsp; We have both spent the entire day
cleaning!</FONT></DIV>
</td></tr></table>
Sun, 03 Apr 2011 19:16:39 GMThttp://blog.mailasail.com/soutpielsafari/186(soutpielsafari)Thankshttp://blog.mailasail.com/soutpielsafari/185
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<DIV><FONT face=Calibri>Our&nbsp;"trip of a lifetime"&nbsp;is now over and we
have had a wonderful time. Our thanks are due to a host of friends, neighbours,
acquaintances, businesses and even to email acquaintances made during the trip
whom we have never met, but who have so enthusiastically joined with us in our
day to day adventures.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri>Our sincere thanks are especially due to the
following:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri>1. To my late Aunt Va (Lavinia)&nbsp;whose legacy
enabled us to buy and equip the Land Rover and to make the trip.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri>2. To Nene Overland, and especially to Kevin Mackman,
for supply and preparation of the Land Rover and for Kevin's ready, cheerful and
helpful advice throughout the trip. The Land Rover performed almost faultlessly
and proved to be the perfect vehicle&nbsp;for the trip.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri>3. &nbsp;Our two families for their continued support
and messages of&nbsp;encouragement all along the way.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri>4. My two sons, Richard and Dan, for their very generous
gift of the Iridium satellite phone which enabled us to send daily reports
wherever we were.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri>5. Our UK neighbours, Peter and Joyce, who have looked
after our UK home base while we have been away&nbsp;and without whose help we
would not be able to lead such an adventurous life.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri>6.&nbsp; Our UK neighbour, Julie, who so diligently
looks after our mail and home affairs while we are travelling.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri>7. Our&nbsp;very good&nbsp;friends, Rudy and Stephanie
for their present of the wonderfully executed "Cook's Condiment Box" which has
been a central feature of our daily life and for running around at the last
moment before departure to ensure that we were properly equipped to South
African standards for "braaing".</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri>8. Jenny's son Garth for coining the&nbsp;slogan "The
Soutpiel Safari" which provided endless mirth and enjoyment&nbsp;with South
Africans whom we encountered through West Africa and was always a talking point
around the camp fire.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri>9. To Bobby Dempsey (whom we unfortunately didn't meet)
for providing such helpful advice on Angola and providing emergency funds
there!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri>10. To the charming and helpful Malian gentleman
(regrettably, whose name and details I have lost) who so kindly assisted in
resolving a rather nasty dispute, in our favour, at the Tombouctou ferry on 7
January. Thank you,&nbsp;Sir!&nbsp;</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri>11. To those who went ahead of us and whose blogs and
emails provided such invaluable information in researching, planning and
executing our trip, especially:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Neil and Catherine
Harrower (Great Trip South); Stu and Sue Adams (UK2SA); Nick and Vicky Bradshaw
(Langebaan Sunset)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri>12. To the hundreds of people who visited our blog sites
so regularly and so enthusiastically followed our daily progress.&nbsp;Jenny's
"Get Jealous" blog site recorded the remarkable total of 56,000
hits!&nbsp;</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
</td></tr></table>
Sat, 02 Apr 2011 19:11:28 GMThttp://blog.mailasail.com/soutpielsafari/185(soutpielsafari)Home photoshttp://blog.mailasail.com/soutpielsafari/188
<table width="100%"><tr><td style="">
<DIV
style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; PADDING-LEFT: 7px; WIDTH: 100%; PADDING-RIGHT: 5px; PADDING-TOP: 2px">
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV></DIV><SPAN contentEditable=false><SPAN style="DISPLAY: block"
layoutEmptyTextWellFont="Tahoma" xmlns:canvas="canvas-namespace-id"><SPAN
style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 15px; HEIGHT: 19px; OVERFLOW: visible"></SPAN><SPAN
style="DISPLAY: inline-block; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 25px; HEIGHT: 244px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; OVERFLOW: visible; MARGIN-RIGHT: 25px">
<TABLE style="HEIGHT: 244px">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD>
<DIV style="WIDTH: 215px; HEIGHT: 215px; OVERFLOW: hidden"><FONT
face=Calibri></FONT><IMG
style="MARGIN-TOP: 27px; DISPLAY: inline-block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0px" border=0
src="http://blog.mailasail.com/soutpielsafari/188/image/jpgvgbEDLTcGy.jpg" width=215
height=161></DIV></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 215px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><FONT
size=3 face=Calibri>Nearly
there</FONT></DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></SPAN><SPAN
style="DISPLAY: inline-block; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 25px; HEIGHT: 244px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; OVERFLOW: visible; MARGIN-RIGHT: 25px">
<TABLE style="HEIGHT: 244px">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD>
<DIV style="WIDTH: 215px; HEIGHT: 215px; OVERFLOW: hidden"><IMG
style="MARGIN-TOP: 27px; DISPLAY: inline-block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0px" border=0
src="http://blog.mailasail.com/soutpielsafari/188/image/jpgvO1_gCjquF.jpg" width=215
height=161></DIV></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 215px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><FONT
size=3 face=Calibri>Home after 25,000
km</FONT></DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></SPAN><SPAN
style="DISPLAY: inline-block; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 25px; HEIGHT: 244px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; OVERFLOW: visible; MARGIN-RIGHT: 25px">
<TABLE style="HEIGHT: 244px">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD>
<DIV style="WIDTH: 215px; HEIGHT: 215px; OVERFLOW: hidden"><FONT
face=Calibri></FONT><IMG
style="MARGIN-TOP: 27px; DISPLAY: inline-block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0px" border=0
src="http://blog.mailasail.com/soutpielsafari/188/image/jpghhgNkhWfRe.jpg" width=215
height=161></DIV></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 215px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><FONT
size=3 face=Calibri>We've done
it!</FONT></DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></SPAN><SPAN
style="DISPLAY: inline-block; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 25px; HEIGHT: 244px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; OVERFLOW: visible; MARGIN-RIGHT: 25px">
<TABLE style="HEIGHT: 244px">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD>
<DIV style="WIDTH: 215px; HEIGHT: 215px; OVERFLOW: hidden"><IMG
style="MARGIN-TOP: 27px; DISPLAY: inline-block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0px" border=0
src="http://blog.mailasail.com/soutpielsafari/188/image/jpgm7f9AMCaxj.jpg" width=215
height=161></DIV></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 215px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><FONT
size=3 face=Calibri>Hatton </FONT></DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></SPAN><SPAN
style="DISPLAY: inline-block; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 25px; HEIGHT: 244px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; OVERFLOW: visible; MARGIN-RIGHT: 25px">
<TABLE style="HEIGHT: 244px">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD>
<DIV style="WIDTH: 215px; HEIGHT: 215px; OVERFLOW: hidden"><IMG
style="MARGIN-TOP: 27px; DISPLAY: inline-block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0px" border=0
src="http://blog.mailasail.com/soutpielsafari/188/image/jpgTORZSlckOk.jpg" width=215
height=161></DIV></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 215px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><FONT
size=3 face=Calibri>Our
driveway</FONT></DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></SPAN><SPAN
style="DISPLAY: inline-block; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 25px; HEIGHT: 260px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; OVERFLOW: visible; MARGIN-RIGHT: 25px">
<TABLE style="HEIGHT: 260px">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD>
<DIV style="WIDTH: 215px; HEIGHT: 215px; OVERFLOW: hidden"><IMG
style="MARGIN-TOP: 27px; DISPLAY: inline-block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0px" border=0
src="http://blog.mailasail.com/soutpielsafari/188/image/jpgSHe7ysaMIT.jpg" width=215
height=161></DIV></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 215px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">
<DIV><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>More of the drive</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV></DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN>
<DIV
style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; PADDING-LEFT: 7px; WIDTH: 100%; PADDING-RIGHT: 5px; HEIGHT: 50px; PADDING-TOP: 2px">
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri>John Franklin</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri><A rel="nofollow" title=http://www.blog.mailasail.com/soutpielsafari
href="http://www.blog.mailasail.com/soutpielsafari">www.blog.mailasail.com/soutpielsafari</A><BR><A rel="nofollow"
title=http://www.getjealous.com/thesoutpielsafari
href="http://www.getjealous.com/thesoutpielsafari">www.getjealous.com/thesoutpielsafari</A></FONT></DIV></DIV>
</td></tr></table>
Sat, 02 Apr 2011 09:48:00 GMThttp://blog.mailasail.com/soutpielsafari/188(soutpielsafari)Day 148: Mission Accomplished! Home!http://blog.mailasail.com/soutpielsafari/184
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<DIV><FONT face=Calibri>Day 148: Friday 1 April 2011. Tandile, Broedersrtoom,
South Africa. S25 48.502 E027 51.673 Distance travelled 563 km.&nbsp; Total trip
distance 25,160 km </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri>Another long, hot and rather boring drive down the N14,
but we finally got home at 1700, 148 days "out" and 25,000 km driven. We went
for a celebratory meal at the "African Swiss" restaurant down the road and then
the long-awaited hot bath.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri>This was a trip of a lifetime, fortunately executed
without major incident, either political, judicial,&nbsp;medical, mechanical or
financial and great fun to boot!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri>Major congratulations are due to Jenny for her cheerful
companionship, her&nbsp;co-driving, her organisation&nbsp;and her sheer
endurance and the Land Rover for bringing us through some pretty tough spots
without even faultering - some tough vehicle!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri>In the next few days I'll publish some trip statistics -
once we have cleaned the Land Rover of all the Saharan sand and the Angolan
mud!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
</td></tr></table>
Sat, 02 Apr 2011 08:29:53 GMThttp://blog.mailasail.com/soutpielsafari/184(soutpielsafari)Day 147: Home strait http://blog.mailasail.com/soutpielsafari/183
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<DIV><FONT face=Calibri>Day 147: Thursday 31 March 2011. Red Sands Lodge,
Kurumans, S Africa. S27 30.392 E023 18.213 Distance driven 379 km</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri>We rose early and walked out to the Augrabies Falls at
daybreak,&nbsp; It was a magnificent sight and from the devastation of the
walkways you could imagine the power of the water when it had been in full
flood</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri>The restaurant manager came to see us as a result of
last night's complaint and refunded our&nbsp;dinner cost, which was a very
pleasant surprise.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri>We just bashed on along the N14 all day, Upington,
Oliphantshoek, etc towards Kurumans, and turned off into this quiet camp site
just short of Kurumans.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri>It has just dawned on us that our trip is almost over
-&nbsp; we should be home tomorrow!&nbsp; It will be very strange not to be on
the move.</FONT></DIV>
</td></tr></table>
Thu, 31 Mar 2011 16:26:10 GMThttp://blog.mailasail.com/soutpielsafari/183(soutpielsafari)Day 146: South Africa - 18th country!http://blog.mailasail.com/soutpielsafari/182
<table width="100%"><tr><td style="">
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri>Day 146: Wednesday 30 March 2011. Augrabies Rest Camp,
Augrabies Falls, S Africa. S28 35.616 E020 20.340. Distance driven 501 km.&nbsp;
Total distance 24,218 km</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri>We drove the 50 km to Noordover and the border, had milk
shakes at the Wimpy there, and crossed over into South Africa.&nbsp; It was one
of the easiest and best organised of all our border crossings. From there we
drove to Steinkop, said goodbye to Garth and family, and on to Springbok and the
N14.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri>The N14 is almost dead straight and runs through flat,
arid land for hundreds of kilometers. It was like driving in a furnace, hot and
very dry.&nbsp; We took it in turns and set our objective at the Augrabies
Falls, mainly because there wasn't anywhere else to stay!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri>At the Augrabies Falls to Orange River runs thorough a
very narrow gorge and the falls are spectacular.&nbsp; There are many places to
stay in the area but the land adjacent to the river is all South African
National Parks (SANPARKS - slogan "this is your Heritage") , another Government
monopoly.&nbsp; Who but a Government Monopoly would be so arrogant as to have a
Check-Out time of 0900?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri>We were both still fighting the chest infection,
coughing all day&nbsp;and&nbsp;had aching ribs and backs as a result.&nbsp; We
were both very tired and seriously dehydrated in spite of drinking water almost
continuously all day.&nbsp; So, we opted to take an air-conditioned cottage for
a bit of luxury and have a restaurant meal.&nbsp; The cottage was nice but
the&nbsp;meal was a disaster, yesterday's kudu pie re-heated in the microwave to
such an extent that the pastry was like rubber and the pie was dried up and
frizzled around the edges. The duty manageress was just not interested in our
complaint.&nbsp; </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri>We are now within two days of home and a long hot bath
beckons!</FONT></DIV>
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Thu, 31 Mar 2011 06:58:45 GMThttp://blog.mailasail.com/soutpielsafari/182(soutpielsafari)Day 145:http://blog.mailasail.com/soutpielsafari/181
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<DIV><FONT face=Calibri>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri>Day 145: Tuesday 29 March 2011.&nbsp;Noorotshama Resort,
Aussenkehr, Namibia. S28 23.749 E017 24.643 &nbsp;Distance driven&nbsp;108
km.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>After an early morning "cuppa" we drove back along the closed section of
the D212 towards&nbsp;Rosh Pinar to see the damage to the bridge.&nbsp;The road
follows the Orange River and was another stunning drive with lots of baboons on
the road and the rocks and heron and fish eagles in the river.</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>The bridge over the Fish River is intact but the approach ramp on the
Aussenkehr side has been washed away. I guess the authorities are just waiting
for the river to subside before repairing it.</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>Back at camp by noon and a brunch before lazing around the pool for the
afternoon. Unfortunately, this is my last day in Namibia as my visa expires
tomorrow so we must head for South Africa in the morning.</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV></FONT></DIV>
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Tue, 29 Mar 2011 14:27:21 GMThttp://blog.mailasail.com/soutpielsafari/181(soutpielsafari)